The document explores the concept of mythology, defining it as a collection of sacred narratives that explain the origins of the world and humankind while also serving various cultural functions. It discusses different mythologies including Greek, Roman, and Indian, and provides examples, notably the story of Medusa, illustrating the consequences of pride and vanity. The narrative concludes with thematic reflections on the nature of beauty and its ephemeral qualities as conveyed by the goddess Athena.

1. Myth and Language Skills
Babu Appat
babuappat@gmail.com
www.appadan.blogspot.com

2. What is Mythology?
The term "mythology" can refer either to
the study of myths (e.g.,
comparative mythology), or to abody or
collection of myths (a mythos, e.g.,
Inca mythology). In folkloristics, a myth is a
sacrednarrative usually explaining how the
world or humankind came to be in its present
form, although, in a very broad sense, the
word can refer to any traditional story.

3. What is Mythology?
Bruce Lincoln defines myth as "ideology in
narrative form".
Myths may arise as either truthful
depictions or over-elaborated accounts of
historical events, as allegory for
or personification of natural phenomena, or as
an explanation of ritual. They are transmitted to
convey religious or idealized experience, to
establish behavioral models, and to teach.

4. What is Mythology?
a. A body or collection of myths belonging to
a people and addressing their origin,
history, deities, ancestors, and heroes.
b. A body of myths associated with an
event, individual, or institution:

5. Great Mythologies of the World
Greek Mythology
Roman Mythology
Indian Mythology

6. Greek Mythology
The body of traditional tales concerning the
gods, heroes, and rituals of the ancient
Greeks.
Critical Greeks, such as Plato in the 5th-4th
century BCE, recognized the considerable
element of fiction in the myths, although in
general the Greeks viewed them as true
accounts

7. Roman Mythology
Roman mythology is the body of traditional
stories pertaining to ancient Rome's legendary
origins and religious system, as represented in
the literature and visual arts of the Romans.
"Roman mythology" may also refer to the
modern study of these representations, and to
the subject matter as represented in the
literature and art of other cultures in any period

8. Indian Mythology
Indian epic poetry
Vedic mythology
Hindu mythology
Buddhist mythology
Jaina Philosophy
Native American mythology

9. Hindu Mythology
Hindu mythology is a large body of traditional
narratives related to Hinduism, notably as
contained in Sanskrit literature, (such as the
Sanskrit epics and the Puranas) and other
religious regional literature of South Asia.

10. Vedic Mythology
Vedic mythology refers to the mythological
aspects of the historical Vedic
religion and Vedic literature, most notably
alluded to in the hymns of the Rigveda

12. I will tell you a STORY
Once upon a time, a long time ago there
lived a beautiful maiden named Medusa.
Medusa lived in the city of Athens in a
country named Greece -- and although
there were many pretty girls in the city,
Medusa was considered the loveliest

13. Unfortunately, Medusa was very proud of
her beauty and thought or spoke of little
else. Each day she boasted of how pretty
she was and each day her boasts became
more outrageous

14. On Sunday, Medusa bragged to the
miller that her skin was more
beautiful than fresh fallen snow

15. On Monday, she told the cobbler
that her hair glowed brighter than
the sun.

16. On Tuesday, she commented to the
blacksmith’s son that her eyes were
greener than the Aegean Sea.

17. On Wednesday, she boasted to
everyone at the public gardens
that her lips were redder than
the reddest rose

18. When she wasn’t busy sharing
her thoughts about her beauty
with all who passed by, Medusa
would gaze lovingly at her
reflection in the mirror

19. She admired herself in her hand
mirror for an hour each morning
as she brushed her hair. She
admired herself in her darkened
window for an hour each evening
as she got ready for bed.

20. She even stopped to admire
herself in the well each
afternoon as she drew water for
her father's horses -- often
forgetting to fetch the water in
her distraction.

21. On and on Medusa went about
her beauty to anyone and
everyone who stopped long
enough to hear her -- until one
day when she made her first
visit to the Parthenon with her
friends

22. The Parthenon was the largest
temple to the goddess Athena in
all the land. It was decorated
with amazing sculptures and
paintings.

23. . Everyone who entered was awed
by the beauty of the place and
couldn’t help but think of how
grateful they were to Athena,
goddess of wisdom, for inspiring
them and for watching over their
city of Athens.
Everyone, that is, except Medusa.

24. When Medusa saw the sculptures,
she whispered that she would have
made a much better subject for the
sculptor than Athena had.

25. When Medusa saw the artwork, she
commented that the artist had done
a fine job considering the goddess's
thick eyebrows -- but imagine how
much more wonderful the painting
would be if it was of someone as
delicate as Medusa.

26. And when Medusa reached the
altar she sighed happily and said,
“My this is a beautiful temple. It is
a shame it was wasted on Athena
for I am so much prettier than she
is – perhaps some day people will
build an even grander temple to
my beauty

27. Medusa’s friends grew pale.
The priestesses who overheard
Medusa gasped

28. Whispers ran through all the people
in the temple who quickly began to
leave -- for everyone knew that
Athena enjoyed watching over the
people of Athens and feared what
might happen if the goddess had
overheard Medusa’s rash remarks

29. Before long the temple was empty
of everyone except Medusa, who
was so busy gazing proudly at her
reflection in the large bronze doors
that she hadn't noticed the swift
departure of everyone else

30. The image she was gazing at
wavered and suddenly, instead
of her own features, it was the
face of Athena that Medusa saw
reflected back at her

31. “Vain and foolish girl,” Athena
said angrily, “You think you are
prettier than I am! I doubt it to
be true, but even if it were --
there is more to life than beauty
alone. While others work and
play and learn, you do little but
boast and admire yourself

32. Medusa tried to point out that
her beauty was an inspiration to
those around her and that she
made their lives better by simply
looking so lovely, but Athena
silenced her with a frustrated
wave

34. Nonsense,” Athena retorted,
“Beauty fades swiftly in all
mortals. It does not comfort the
sick, teach the unskilled or feed
the hungry. And by my powers,
your loveliness shall be stripped
away completely. Your fate
shall serve as a reminder to
others to control their pride

35. And with those words Medusa’s
face changed to that of a
hideous monster. Her hair
twisted and thickened into
horrible snakes that hissed and
fought each other atop her head

36. Medusa, for your pride this has
been done. Your face is now so
terrible to behold that the mere
sight of it will turn a man to
stone,” proclaimed the goddess,
“Even you, Medusa, should you
seek your reflection, shall turn
to rock the instant you see your
face

37. And with that, Athena sent
Medusa with her hair of snakes
to live with the blind monsters --
the gorgon sisters -- at the ends
of the earth, so that no
innocents would be accidentally
turned to stone at the sight of
her

38. Odysseus Ulysses
Phosporus Lucifer Yama
Zeus Jupiter Indra
Asclepius Aesculapius
Athena Minerva

39. THANK YOU
BABU APPAT